ATHLETES

The true heroes of the Special Olympics were the 3,500 athletes that
traveled across the county, country, and globe to attend an event that celebrates
their spirit.

Main Page Content

Their enthusiasm was overwhelming; the thrill
of being able to participate was the most important aspect of the games
to many of the Olympians. Upon completion of their events, many
athletes would rush to the payphones to call home with news of their
accomplishments.

"Mom, hi mom," said one Olympian. "I won. I didn’t win a gold, but I
got a silver. Isn’t that great?"

That is the spirit of the International Special Olympics.

From a report in the Buffalo Courier Express on August 11, 1979.

The Santa Rosa, California Press Democrat reported on August
7, 1979 about one such athlete, Don Eldlich. Edlich is from Sonoma
County and is the only person from his area to qualify for the Special
Olympics in Brockport. At 49 years of age, and six feet, five inches
tall, he will be going for glory in the softball throw and the standing
long jump. He has been training for these events by running a mile and a
half every day.

Though he understands competition will be tough, Edlich says, " I’m
doing my part to help my school, coaches, and the people I work for. I
want to do good." Edlich is being sent cross-country on $2,000 his
local hospital received during fundraisers. There are other things on
this athlete’s mind beyond competition; he is looking forward to meeting
some of his favorite celebrities.

The New York State Special Olympics Floor Hockey Team did not have
the day they hoped for on Friday, August 10, 1979. The team was
comprised of Erie County hockey players, and they lost their first two
games: 23-0 against the Canadian B team, and 13-1 against the California
team.

However, the game against the Canadians was interrupted by a special
surprise: the arrival of some celebrity hockey players.

"There! He’s Bobby Orr," proclaimed one exuberant hockey when Orr
entered with Phil Esposito and Bryan Watson. Much to the Special
Olympians’ delight, they received autographs and even got to scrimmage
the famous athletes.

So, perhaps Friday was not such a bad day for the New York State
Special Olympics Floor Hockey team after all.

Reported from the Buffalo Courier Express on August 11, 1979.

The Buffalo Evening News reported on August 12, 1979 about
"Wendy Adams, 11, of Kenmore (who) is a frail little girl who looks a
little like Raggedy Ann. She is blind. She cannot speak. Her teachers
told her she was incapable of skating, but after four hours with
Buffalo instructor Elizabeth O’Donnell, she was doing spirals, spins,
drags and crossovers.

That was two months ago. This weekend, Wendy Adams was here in
Brockport, and the girl who would never skate was out on the synthetic
ice with Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito, teaching others to skate. That
is, Miss O’Donnell said, ‘what the Special Olympics are all about.’"

One 16-year-old swimmer from Scotland has the mighty support of an
entire soup factory behind her as she competes in the butterfly and
freestyle in the Brockport Games. Angeling Bucham, has temporarily left
her job as a labeler in a soup factory in her hometown of Peter Head,
Scotland. The factory has been helping her by allowing her to train for
one hour a day during her shift. The support from her community has
been amazing, and they even provided her with a mascot – a little
stuffed fish – to bring her good luck.

Reported from Times Union on August 9, 1979.

Alan Pransky, 31, and Noreen Farrell, 43, traveled to Brockport from
Long Island to compete in wheelchair events. They live at the Suffolk
Developmental Center in Melville, Long Island, are confined to
wheelchairs, and are in love.

"She is my girlfriend," acknowledges Alan. Noreen nods her head in
agreement. They have been together for about three years and are each
other’s well wishers and support before and after each event.

Alan’s story is particularly inspirational; because of his
disability, he must roll backwards to compete in the wheelchairs races.
Bumping into people in the neighboring lanes can be a problem, but Alan
has adapted to meet his challenge and is likely the only backwards
racer in the Brockport Special Olympics Competition.

From The Times Union on August 11, 1979.

Special Olympians from around the country had to surmount a difficult
challenge in order to make it to Brockport in 1979; they needed to earn
enough money to finance their way. On August 10, 1979, the Times
Union reported on the variety of ways money was raised.

Delaware delegates spent three years earning $9,000 that was
necessary for their 40 participants and 10 chaperones to make it. They
held fund-raising events such as a dinner theater and "Sponsor an
Athlete" programs.

In Michigan, they needed $56,000 which they earned largely through a
"Super Star" competition. A Special Olympian, chaperone, and a
celebrity (quite often a Michigan sports star) competed in games that
were attended by 2,000 people. Major corporations contributed the rest
to help the 90 participants and 22 chaperones travel to Brockport.

In California, many methods were used to raise money. Special
Olympics posters were sold to business sponsors and a golf tournament
helped to pay the $500 cost of transporting 90 athletes and 18
chaperones to the Special Olympics games in Brockport.